Today, a Twin Cities radio legend hung up his headphones.
I remember being 9 years old in the summer of 1973, eagerly tuning the dial on my new Wards Airline 6 Band portable and soaking up every station I could hear. As I approached the right end of the dial, I noticed something new and glorious: ROCK MUSIC on KSTP! Formerly a stodgy adult station that my father listened to when there was a ball game on WCCO, they were now playing “Shambala” by Three Dog Night and calling themselves “15 KSTP, The Muuuuuuuuuusic Station!” The new morning guy called himself Chuck Knapp. Said he was from Fergus Falls. Instantly, I was hooked.
Fast-forward to the next decade: I am now in high school and Chuck Knapp is now on the FM side of the building, teamed with a guy by the name of “Donuts.” Like most teenage guys of the time, I was into Judas Priest, AC/DC, Ozzy, Van Halen, etc. None of which was played on KS95. But I listened to them anyway. Why? Because they were good. Damn good.
Later, after I had moved away and was on the radio myself, I’d occasionally get a tape of “The Knapper and the Pastor” on KTIS. Even though I wasn’t much into Christian radio, I’d listen to every cassette I could get my hands on. Why? Because they were good. Damn good.
Most recently, I had the chance to listen to Chuck and Jon on BOB 106 on several occasions. Still solid, still a class act all the way around. The signal was scratchy and sometimes hard to hear in East Bloomington. But I’d listen anyway because they were good. Damn good.
Congratulations on nearly 40 years in Twin Cities radio. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment. You “made this turkey fly”, taking KSTP-AM from near last place to #2 in a few short months. Then, you transformed the FM from an automated jukebox to one of the premiere AC stations in the country. At KTIS, you brought Christian radio to countless thousands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have given it a chance. You were a major influence on countless kids such as myself. One of the guys who made us say “When I grow up, I’m going to be on the radio, just like him!”
Enjoy your retirement, Chuck. You’re earned it well. Thanks again for all the great radio moments and memories.
Went on the internet and was surfing for people I knew, then thought of Knapp and Donuts, saw that “ Donuts” passed. So recall Roger and myself getting together early morning’s at a West Bank restaurant before Chuck went to work, a cop, Ford motor supervisor band a radio DJ, did this for a long time, that was so enjoyable, just three guys talking over coffee and muffins.